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Home » Creative Recipes » Soups / Salads » Green Salads » Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

Overhead view of 1/2 an apple walnut cranberry salad in a glass bowl.

Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Feb 15, 2014
UPDATED: Nov 18, 2023
148 Reviews / 4 Average
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2-photo pin with green label and white text for apple walnut cranberry salad

This Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad includes a Mixed Green Spinach Salad with Green Apples, Dried Cranberries, Walnuts, and Gorgonzola Cheese. This simple salad explodes with flavor.

This healthy green salad incorporates all the deliciousness of the cheese, cranberries, and walnuts, but avoids the heavier ingredients like some other cranberry salads.

This holiday salad is the perfect fall salad for special occasions, or for family dinners, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, Valentine’s Day, or any other family dinner where you want a light and refreshing crisp Green Salad. It is truly one of my favorite Salad Recipes.

The cranberries in this Apple Walnut salad are very different from my other Cranberry Salad, Cranberry Fluff. That Cranberry Salad is sweet, almost like a dessert.

However, this Apple, Walnut Cranberry Salad is savory with a slightly sweet and tart combination and nutty and salty flavors.

Table of Contents
  • Why You’ll Love This Salad
  • What You’ll Need To Make This Recipe
  • Equipment
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
  • Recipe Tips
  • Variations
  • What To Serve With Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
  • FAQs
  • Recipe
  • Reviews

To dress this salad, I made my Apple Cider Vinaigrette, which is one of the mild dressings. I rarely buy bottles of salad dressing anymore because it is so easy to make my own, especially vinaigrette. This one starts with olive oil and adds apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic powder, dried oregano, black pepper, and basil. Easy!

Suffice it to say, your salad bowl will be filled with flavor when you make this salad. It combines the sweetness of the green apples and cranberries with the saltiness of the gorgonzola while the walnuts add a bit of crunch. Yum!

Why You’ll Love This Salad

  • Flavors of Fall – With green apples, dried cranberries, walnuts, and fresh mixed greens, this great salad feels like fall.
  • Vinaigrette – I like the apple cider vinaigrette with this recipe. However, a balsamic vinaigrette would work well also. The dressing ingredients are easy to find and use staple ingredients that you can easily find at your grocery store.
  • Fresh Ingredients – With ingredients like fresh, crisp lettuce, green apples, and more, you can feel good about serving this delicious salad to your family and guests.
  • Easy To Make – Literally, throw all the ingredients in a bowl and toss. It truly is one of the easy salads that you will ever make.

What You’ll Need To Make This Recipe

Equipment

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  • Large Salad Bowl
  • Tongs

Ingredient Notes

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

Salad Ingredients

  • Mixed salad greens – with spinach leaves, washed
  • Green apples – Green apples, like the granny smith apple variety, work great in this recipe. However, if you prefer sweet apples, you could use red apples, like delicious apples. I sliced the apples. However, if you prefer, you could chop apples instead.
  • Dried Cranberries
  • Gorgonzola Cheese – I like to use Gorgonzola or bleu cheese, or if you prefer, blue cheese. However, feta cheese or goat cheese would also be good options.
  • Walnut Pieces
  • Red Onion (Optional)

Apple Cider Vinaigrette Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar – I like the apple cider vinegar for this salad. However, if you prefer a balsamic vinaigrette, use balsamic vinegar instead.
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic powder
  • Dried oregano
  • Dried basil
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Sugar (Optional)

How To Make Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

Make The Homemade Vinaigrette

  • In a small bowl, whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients, including:
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Olive Oil
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Garlic Powder, Dried oregano, Dried Basil
    • Dijon Mustard
  • Stir Everything together

Make The Salad

In a large bowl, toss the salad greens, sliced apples, dried cranberries, gorgonzola, and walnuts.

Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and toss. Serve immediately.

Side View of Vinaigrette being poured onto an Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad in a glass bowl on a white marble counter.

Serve!

Recipe Tips

  • Fresh Ingredients. Use the freshest ingredients you can find in this recipe. Freshness is the key to success with salads.
  • Toss Well. Toss the ingredients well before serving so guests can taste all the ingredients in the salad.

Variations

  • Lettuce – Use green leaf lettuce, Romain lettuce, or your favorite mixed greens.
  • Apples – Change the type of apples that you use. Try red delicious, golden delicious, or any other apple you like. Another option would be to use pears instead of apples.
  • Cheese – While I like gorgonzola cheese, feel free to change it with feta, goat cheese, or queso fresco.
  • Vinaigrette – Instead of an apple cider vinaigrette, you can create a balsamic vinaigrette, or change it completely and use your favorite creamy salad dressing, like ranch dressing.

What To Serve With Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

Below are some of my favorite recipes to serve with this salad.

  • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
  • Oven Roasted Chicken
  • Baked Acorn Squash Slices
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Hot Cross Buns
  • Old Fashioned Custard Pie

FAQs

How Do I Store Leftover Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad?

  • Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze Salad

  • I do NOT recommend freezing a green leaf salad, like this apple walnut salad.
Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

This salad is easy yet impressive…my favorite combination.  Go ahead and make this salad.  Impress your friends.  Just don’t tell them how easy it is to make. Don’t worry. I won’t tell!

Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

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Recipe

Overhead view of 1/2 an apple walnut cranberry salad in a glass bowl.
Print Pin Save Saved!
4.02 from 148 votes

Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad

This Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad includes a Mixed Green Spinach Salad with Green Apples, Dried Cranberries, Walnuts, and Gorgonzola Cheese. This salad explodes with flavor.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple Cranberry Salad, Apple Salad, Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 15 minutes minutes
Servings 4
Calories 347kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 (10-ounce bag) 50% blend mixed greens and spinach washed
  • 2 green apples sliced
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar (or sweetener of choice)
US Customary – Metric
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Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, toss together all the salad ingredients.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients. Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and toss. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips

  • Fresh Ingredients. Use the freshest ingredients you can find in this recipe. Freshness is the key to success with salads.
  • Toss Well. Toss the ingredients well before serving so guests can taste all the ingredients in the salad.

Variations

  • Lettuce – Use green leaf lettuce, Romain lettuce, or your favorite mixed greens.
  • Apples – Change the type of apples that you use. Try red delicious, golden delicious, or any other apple you like. Another option would be to use pears instead of apples.
  • Cheese – While I like gorgonzola cheese, feel free to change it with feta, goat cheese, or queso fresco.
  • Vinaigrette – Instead of an apple cider vinaigrette, you can create a balsamic vinaigrette, or change it completely and use your favorite creamy salad dressing, like ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad-4

Filed Under: 30-Minutes-or-Less, Budget-friendly, Christmas, Cranberry, Date Night, Easter Recipes, Fall Recipes, Gluten Free, Gourmet, Green Salads, Healthy, Low Carb, Low Fat, Mother's Day, Popular Posts, Quick and Easy, Resized Slider Photos, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Sides, Vegetarian Tagged With: apple, apple salad, cranberry, cranberry salad, mustard, salad, walnuts

DISCLOSURE: Flavor Mosaic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Please note: This blog may contain affiliate links to products I use and love. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help with blog expenses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!

Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author and content creator. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot and Air Fryer recipes and Italian, Southern and Mexican cuisines.  Contact: [email protected].

Comments

  1. Paula says

    February 16, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    Beautiful salad! Thanks so much for linking with us at Marvelous MOndays, I pinned this to my party board!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      February 16, 2014 at 7:03 pm

      Thank you Paula! Thanks for having a wonderful link party and sharing our recipes!

      Reply
  2. Deb@CookingOnTheFrontBurner says

    February 18, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    I love a salad full of yummy ingredients! Thanks for sharing this with us at our Marvelous Monday Party! Pinning!

    Reply
  3. Erlene says

    February 21, 2014 at 11:19 am

    I like all the ingredients in this salad. Pinning to my soup/salad board. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Natasha in Oz says

    February 22, 2014 at 12:22 am

    I love cranberries in salads so this looks like a keeper for sure. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    My Say G’Day Saturday linky party has started up again after a long break and this recipe would be a perfect addition to this week’s party. Please pop by if you have a minute and say g’day!

    Best wishes for a great weekend,
    Natasha in Oz

    Reply
  5. Shareba @ In Search Of Yummy-ness says

    May 3, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    There are so many yummy ingredients in this salad, I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for linking up at Good Food Friday!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      May 4, 2014 at 6:35 pm

      Thank you Shareba for hosting the link party!

      Reply
  6. Ashley @ LeavingTheRut says

    May 4, 2014 at 11:46 am

    This looks delicious!! Can’t wait to give it a try, thanks for sharing.
    Pinned it!

    Reply
  7. Marissa @ Life is Fantasmic says

    May 24, 2014 at 6:55 am

    YUM!!! I’d love for you to share this at my Saturday Dishes Link Party this weekend! It’s a themed link up & this week’s theme is Memorial Day & Grilling! Feel free to share other posts that fit the theme as well if you have them! (:

    http://lifeisfantasmic.blogspot.com/2014/05/saturday-dishes-memorial-day-grilling.html

    Reply
  8. Kecia says

    October 3, 2014 at 6:07 am

    I love the combination of ingredients in this salad! And the dressing sounds amazing!

    Reply
  9. Rachel Cooks says

    January 14, 2015 at 7:44 am

    This salad is definitely my kind of salad! Looks wonderful and I love how colorful it is.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 14, 2015 at 7:46 am

      Thank you Rachel!

      Reply
  10. Marye says

    January 14, 2015 at 7:58 am

    This looks delish! I love the combination of cranberries, nuts, and cheese…

    Reply
  11. Laura @MotherWouldKnow says

    January 14, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Especially love your vinaigrette. I make a similar salad, and now I have a wonderful dressing to replace my rather pedestrian vinaigrette.

    Reply
  12. fabiola@notjustbaked says

    January 14, 2015 at 10:47 am

    I love a beautiful filling salad, and this looks just like the perfect one for me! Love it.

    Reply
  13. Renée B. says

    January 14, 2015 at 11:25 am

    What a delicious combination, and your vinaigrette sounds perfect! I can’t wait to try this one!

    Reply
  14. Monique says

    February 3, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    Just tried this today….. SO AWESOME!!! Thank you very much for the wonderful recipe!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      February 3, 2015 at 10:20 pm

      I’m so happy you liked it! Thanks for coming back and letting me know.

      Reply
  15. Diana N says

    May 23, 2015 at 8:23 am

    love the flavors in this salad. Do you think I can make this ahead and store in the fridge for a few days? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      May 23, 2015 at 8:40 am

      Hi Diana, you can certainly make the vinaigrette ahead of time, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (separate from the salad). As for the salad, the spinach leaves last only so long. Therefore, I recommend making the salad itself shortly before you are ready to serve.

      Reply
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4.02 from 148 votes (145 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes.
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